Executive Director

About Foster Advocates

Foster Advocates envisions a Minnesota where every person in the foster care system has the same access to opportunity as their peers, and where Foster voices are respected and sought in every aspect of the child welfare system. Founded in 2018 to address the absence of foster led advocacy and expertise in the child welfare space, Foster Advocates is focused on systems change directed by and for Fosters. We create a unique and outsized impact through:

• Relationships – We build powerful, trust-based relationships with Fosters across the state and connect them to each other and to opportunities for healing, advocacy, and leadership.
• Research – We collect and analyze data rooted in Foster experiences to define the real challenges Fosters face and to shape effective policy solutions.
• Reform – We use this research and relational insight to drive systemic change—advocating for and co-creating policies that expand opportunity and justice for Fosters.

In recent years, Foster Advocates has invested significant time and resources in the Minnesota Promise project, a statewide listening tour designed to surface and consolidate insights from the Foster community about what the future of foster care in Minnesota should look like. Culminating in a report that will launch in May 2025, the MN Promise details how the state can realize a future where Fosters are seen, valued, uplifted, and loved—not discarded. Through this groundbreaking initiative, Foster Advocates is building a clear path for stakeholders to work together to transform foster care systems with dignity, justice, and love at the center, and to ensure that Minnesota makes good on its promise to Fosters.

Learn more about our work at fosteradvocates.org.

About the Role

Foster Advocates is seeking a strategic and community-driven Executive Director to help bring the Foster Movement into its full power and actualize the bold vision of the MN Promise. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will oversee a passionate team of six and a $1M annual budget. This leader will advance Foster Advocates’ mission through organizational leadership, fundraising, program and policy oversight, and community relationships. They will bring a deep commitment to equity, a healing-centered and trauma-informed approach, and a drive to transform child welfare through community-rooted reform that centers the expertise of those most impacted. Responsibilities of this role will include:

Organizational Leadership

• Lead organizational strategy, operations, and culture in alignment with Foster Advocates’ core values: Agency, Balance, Boldness, Solidarity, and Trust
• Partner with the Board of Directors and staff to set strategic direction and long-term priorities to advance the mission and to provide a compelling vision for the organization
• Lead the development and management of the annual organizational budget aligned to strategic priorities in collaboration with relevant staff, leadership and the Board
• Oversee day-to-day operations and ensure the organization’s systems and policies are values-aligned, effective, and legally compliant
• Ensure all strategies and initiatives are inclusive, equitable and responsive to community needs
• Directly manage and support a team of staff members across workstreams and programs, providing ongoing coaching and professional development to cultivate individual growth and organizational impact
• Foster an inclusive team culture that supports shared leadership, mutual respect, and a healthy work-life balance for all staff members
• Oversee board governance functions, including increasing board capacity, leading a bylaw revision process, and growing the board with Foster leadership at the center
• Ensure all strategies and approaches are equitable, healing-centered, and Foster-led

Fundraising & Development

• Design and lead Foster Advocates’ development strategy to sustain and grow a diverse mix of funding streams, including institutional funding, individual giving, contracts, and earned income
• Grow a robust individual giving program, cultivating a broad network of supporters invested in Foster-led change
• Build and maintain strong relationships with individual and institutional donors
• Partner with development consultants and relevant staff as needed to execute fundraising activities, including events, stakeholder communications, reporting, and prospecting
• Develop strategies and materials to support grant and contract proposals that align with organizational priorities and programmatic needs
• Monitor revenue targets and ensure fundraising activities are meeting benchmarks

Policy & Advocacy

• Oversee Foster Advocates’ policy strategy in partnership with the Director of Policy and Advocacy, Foster leaders, contract lobbyists, and community stakeholders, building on the organization’s strong credibility at the Capitol
• Oversee the co-creation of legislative proposals that center Foster voice with a focus on dismantling systemic barriers and shifting public narratives around foster care
• Cultivate and sustain relationships with policymakers, legislators, agency leaders, and partners to drive systemic change in alignment with Foster Advocates’ mission
• Build awareness and visibility for Foster Advocates and the MN Promise Project

Community Relationships

• Serve as the primary public representative of Foster Advocates, building relationships and partnerships with stakeholders across sectors including government, nonprofit, philanthropy, and grassroots communities
• Attend and speak at events, convenings, and public forums to increase awareness of Foster Advocates’ mission, programs, and impact
• Cultivate and maintain long-term relationships with Foster leaders across the state, ensuring the organization remains grounded in the needs and dreams of its community
• Oversee Foster Advocates’ leadership development programs for Fosters in partnership with the Director of Support Programs

Qualifications

Strong candidates will demonstrate the following:

• Alignment with Foster Advocates’ mission and core values, including a trauma-informed, healing-centered approach and a belief in the leadership of young people
• Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-driven change, with a track record of centering the leadership of those most impacted by systems of harm
• Leadership experience in nonprofit operations or program, including experience with team management, budget management, and organizational growth or change
• Fundraising and development experience across a mix of revenue streams, including individual donors, institutional giving, contracts, and earned income
• Leadership in advocacy and policy, with experience in legislative engagement and coalition-building and organizing preferred
• Strong track record of maintaining trusted relationships across diverse communities and with youth, including demonstrated expertise in conflict resolution and restorative justice
• Exceptional communication skills, including public speaking, persuasive writing, and facilitation across diverse audiences
• Experience working across lines of difference, with a deep understanding of how race, gender, disability, sexuality, and other identities intersect, especially for system-impacted individuals
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with a history of building or growing initiatives, organizations, or programs from the ground up
• A leadership style that embraces joy, celebration, and a growth mindset
• Lived experience in foster care or direct connection to the Foster community highly preferred
• Familiarity with Minnesota child welfare landscape preferred

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this role is $110,000 to $120,000. Foster Advocates offers competitive benefits including:

• Health Partners insurance (no employee contribution)
• Humana vision & dental (no employee contribution)
• Short-term & long-term disability benefit (no employee contribution)
• Hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from office at EquaSpace
• 6 weeks PTO, as well as the week of July 4th off and the last two weeks in December off
• 1 hour/pay period paid wellness time
• Simple IRA with 3% match
• Cell phone stipend
• Professional development stipend, including executive coaching coverage

To Apply

To apply, please complete our online application (hyperlink: https://forms.gle/CMWBKdza7PxqUjrE8). We will accept applications through May 25th, 2025, and we encourage early submissions. The application asks for a resume and, in place of a cover letter, responses to each of the following questions in 150 words or less:

1. What compels you about the work of Foster Advocates, and about the Executive Director position specifically?
2. What past experiences have best prepared you for this role?
3. What professional values are most important to you? How have those values shaped your behavior and decisions in your career so far?

Foster Advocates is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.